Amusement device



April 1963 M. P. WENTZEL 3,083,964

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed May 1, 1961 INVENTOR.

MILTON P. WENTZEL BY ATTORN EYS.

3&8334 Fatented Apr. 2, 1963 3,083fi6d AMUSEMENT DEVHCE Milton P. Wentzel, 3324 Blue Rock Road, Cincinnati, Ohio Filed May 1, 1961, Ser. No. 196,709 8 Claims. (Ul. 272-60) The invention relates to an amusement or exercise device intended to appeal to small children in view of their universal desire to climb upon and walk along various narrow, elongated objects such as fences, walls or curbs.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide an amusement or exercise device along which children may walk and balance themselves in safety, and which provides walking surfaces narrow enough to require a degree of skill in balancing.

' It is an object of the invention to provide a device with a plurality of walking surfaces of varying degrees of difiiculty.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device to aid in the development of a childs coordination and agility.

Another object is the be used in the home.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and which can be sold at an attractive price.

It is an object of the invention to provide a form of device in which, in certain embodiments, units may be joined or juxtaposed to present longer walking surfaces.

It is an object of the invention to provide an amusement or exercise device which in most embodiments may be shipped, sold and stored in knocked-down condition.

These and other objects of the invention which will be set forth hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications are accomplished by that structure and arrangement of parts of which various exemplary embodiments will now be described.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 4 is an end elevation thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view thereof taken from the end.

FIGURE 7 shows in perspective a modification wherein the walking surfaces have a degree of give or deflection.

FIGURE 8 is an end elevation of the type of device shown in FIGURE 7, indicating one method in which the strand elements may be attached to brace members.

Briefly, in the practice of this invention, the device is an elongated member of substantially triangular crosssection. The cross-sectional shape is essentially one which may be confined within the limits of an equilateral triangle of suitable height, preferably 6-12". The elongated device, therefore, is capable of resting on any one of three bases, in which positions the device will have complete stability. The elongated portions lying at the apices of the triangular cross-section form walking surfaces for the purpose set forth above. These walking surfaces are at such a height from the floor upon which the device rests as to eliminate danger if a child should lose its balance and fall. The three walking surfaces so provided may be of different widths, and therefore of different degrees of difficulty. The walking surfaces may, of

provision of a device which may course, be changed by moving the device so as to cause it to rest upon another base.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURES l and 2. Two end triangular members 1 and 2 are shown generally in the form of equilateral triangles with their apices somewhat truncated. These triangular members may be made of any suitable material such as wood, metal or plastic. The corresponding apices of these members are interconnected, as shown, by elongated elements or rails 3, 4 and 5, having substantial stiffness. In the particular embodiment, these rails are shown as made of extruded aluminum or similar light metal, the extruded shape having generally a Ushaped cross-section. The base of the U forms a walking surface, and the legs of the U form convenient means for attaching the rails to the triangular members 1 and 2 as by means of screws or bolts.

The rails 3, 4 and 5 have bases of different widths providing Walking surfaces of varying difficulty. Thus the rail 3 is shown as having the narrowest walking surface, the rail 4 a walking surface which is somewhat wider, and the rail 5 the widest of the walking surfaces provided by the device. These walking surfaces may have any spe- 'cific widths desired. As an exemplary but non-limiting illustration, it is possible to provide the rail 3 with a walking surface, say, /2 wide, the rail 4 with a walking surface 1 wide, and the rail 5 with a walking surface 1 /2" or 2" wide. The rails themselves may be of any length desired for the device itself. An exemplary but nonlhni-ting length could be, say, four feet. It is within the purview of this invention to brace the rails if required to prevent sagging under expected loads, by the inclusion in the structure of one or more intermediate triangular elements 6 to which the rails may be fastened in the same way.

It will be seen that the apices of the var-ions triangular members are truncated to various depths to coincide with the shapes of the rails employed. The device is easily and inexpensively manufactured, may be shipped in a knocked-down condition, is easily assembled in the home, and after a period of use may be easily disassembled for storage. It will be clear also that if desired, two or more of the devices may be placed end to end to give a longer walking path.

A modified structure is illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4. Here the end triangular members '7 and 8 together with any intermediate triangular members such as the member 9 are again made of any suitable material in the general shape of an equilateral triangle. The truncated apices of the triangular members are in this instance recessed as at 19, 11 or 12 in FIGURE 4 so as to be capable of accepting rails of substantially rectangular cross-section. These rails are indicated at 113, 14 and 15; and the design described facilitates the use of wooden members for the rails, since these rails can be made of sufficient depth in the direction of the altitudes of the triangular members to give the necessary stiffness. However, the rails may be made of other materials, and in particular they may be hollow metal sections, or U-shaped metal members. The rails may be fastened in the recesses 10,

lit and 12 in any suitable way. Where wooden members are used the fastening may conveniently be done by means of nails indicated at 16.

Yet another modification is shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 where the triangular elements 17, 1S and 19 have their truncated apices hollowed out to form sockets of arcuate shapes for rails which may in this instance be hollow metal tubes 2%, 21 and 22;, round wooden rails, or the like. A convenient mode of assembly of the rails to the triangular members is best shown in FIGURE 6, where use is made of strap-like devices 23, 24 and 25 having portions to pass around the rails, and legs lying along the sides of the triangular members and capable of being fastened thereto by screws or bolts 26.

The devices of this invention are extremely attractive to children who are able to exercise their talents in walkingthe: tightrope in full safety since the distance. they can fall is extremely limited. It is' possible. to make de vices of the generahtype hereinidisclosed with walking surfaces which are. deflectible or'springyl to a greater or less degree so as to simulatemore closely these-called tightwire of circus performances. tionis shown in FIGURES 7 and 8; In this modification the triangular end pieces 27 and 2S and any intermediate triangular member (if used) such' as the member 29 are' held apart by acentrally disposed strut means 30." The strut is a compression member to which the triangular members are fastenedin any suitableway. While woodenstruts are entirely'feasible, the-strut members 30, it desired may be formed of hollow tubes, preferablyof light metal, the tubes being-furnished with flanges 31 threaded on their ends, the flanges being bolted or-screwedto the;

triangular members as will be evident from FIGUlUi-T.

The actual walking surfaces in thedevice of FIGURES 7 and 8 may be formed of bendable strand-like materials such as wire, fiat wire, rope, wire cable and even resilient materials such as rubber. Thestrand-like-materials may be fastened to the apices of the triangular members 27 and 28 in anyway desired. One way, as illustrated in the figures, is to provide the ends of the strand-like members with loops, and to engage these loops either with screw hooks or with turnbuclrles 32 fastened to the apices of the triangular members. The various strand-likemembers, two of' which are shown at 3.3 and 34 in-FlGURE apices may simply be grooved to accept the strand-like members, or the strand-like members may be passed through holes in the triangular member near its apices.

Other ways of fastening the strand-like members to thesupporting triangular members may be used, including clamp-like devices such as are used for the tubular rails of FIGURES and- 6.

It will be understood that in any of the above described embodiments, a non-skid material such as rubber, plastic or non-skid paint, may be applied to the walking surfaces and base supports for improved traction and safety.

Modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit of it. The invention having been described in certain exemplary embodiments, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An amusement and exercising device comprising an elongated structure of generally triangular cross-section such as would be generated by moving a plane figure of substantially equilateral triangular shape along a straight line'perpendicular to the plane of the figure, said structure having means at the apices of its triangularcrosssection to provide walking surfaces extending the length of the structure, said' surfaces having resiliency-and being of sufiicient length to permit a plurality of consecutive One such modifica steps to be taken thereon, said surfaces being differently configured so as to present different degrees of difliculty of balance to a person walking therealong, said structure capable of being placed on a support so as to rest on any of its sides with the walking surface opposite said side presented upwardly, said structure comprising a pair of substantially triangular end members and three elongated rail members afiixed at their ends to the apices of said substantially triangular members and held in parallel spaced relationship thereby.

2. The structure claimed in claim 1 including a substantially triangular member locatedintermediate the first mentioned substantially. triangular members; said rail's being afiixed also to the apices ofsaid intermediate substantially triangular member.

3. The structure claimed in claim- 1 wherein said rail members are metal members of substantially 3 U-shaped cross-section having abase and legs, wherein the'apices ofsaid substantiallytriangular members are truncated to conform to the inner sides of said base members, and wherein the legs of said rail'mernbers are angularly positioned to coincide with the planes of the sides of said substantially triangular members and are afiixed thereto.

4. T he structure-claimed in claim 1 wherein said rail members are'substantially rectangularin cross-section.

5. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said rail members are substantially rectangular in cross-section and are engaged in recesses formed at the apices of'said substantially triangular members.

6. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein the said rail members are cylindrical in cross-section, and are of differing diameters, and wherein said rail members are engaged in depressions at the apices of said substantially triangular members and are held thereto by clamps engaging over the rail members and fastened to the sides of said substantially triangular members.

7. An amusement and exercising device comprising at least two members substantially in the shape of equilateral triangles, a brace member affixed between said substantially triangular members so as to hold them apart, and strand-like elements forming walking surfaces interconnecting the corresponding apices of said substantially triangular members said strand-like elements being of suflicientlength to permit a pluralityof consecutive steps to be taken'th'ereon.

8. An amusement and exercising device comprising at least two substantially triangular members of equilateral configuration, said members lying in spaced parallel relationship, and rail members interconnecting the corresponding apices of said substantially triangular members, said rail members being in the form of hollow metal tubular members of diflering cross-sectional dimension said tubular members having resiliency and being-of. sufficientlength to permit a plurality of consecutive steps to be taken thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. AN AMUSEMENT AND EXERCISING DEVICE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED STRUCTURE OF GENERALLY TRIANGULAR CROSS-SECTION SUCH AS WOULD BE GENERATED BY MOVING A PLANE FIGURE OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUILATERAL TRIANGULAR SHAPE ALONG A STRAIGHT LINE PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE OF THE FIGURE, SAID STRUCTURE HAVING MEANS AT THE APICES OF ITS TRIANGULAR CROSSSECTION TO PROVIDE WALKING SURFACES EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF THE STRUCTURE, SAID SURFACES HAVING RESILIENCY AND BEING OF SUFFICIENT LENGTH TO PERMIT A PLURALITY OF CONSECUTIVE STEPS TO BE TAKEN THEREON, SAID SURFACES BEING DIFFERENTLY CONFIGURED SO AS TO PRESENT DIFFERENT DEGREES OF DIFFICULTY OF BALANCE TO A PERSON WALKING THEREALONG, SAID STRUCTURE CAPABLE OF BEING PLACED ON A SUPPORT SO AS TO REST ON ANY OF ITS SIDES WITH THE WALKING SURFACE OPPOSITE SAID SIDE PRESENTED UPWARDLY, SAID STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY TRIANGULAR END MEMBERS AND THREE ELONGATED RAIL MEMBERS AFFIXED AT THEIR ENDS TO THE APICES OF SAID SUBSTANTIALLY TRIANGULAR MEMBERS AND HELD IN PARALLEL SPACED RELATIONSHIP THEREBY. 